MassCEC Catalyst and Academic Activator Fall 2026

The Massachusetts Clean Energy Technology Center is accepting applications for the Fall 2026 Catalyst and Academic Activator programs. The round opened on August 18, 2026 and closes at 5:00 p.m. EDT on September 30, 2026. The program page lists the round as open. Each award is $75,000.

MassCEC seeks up to 12 Catalyst projects and at least 3 Academic Activator projects, with a maximum of 15 awards. The goal is prototype work that shows a clean energy or climatetech idea can work in a real use, from a formulated concept through laboratory validation. Emphasis areas include energy, transportation, manufacturing, agriculture and water, buildings, resilience, and enabling software or hardware such as platforms and marketplaces. Coal, oil, woody biomass, and natural gas technologies are not treated as climatetech in this call.

A company must be based in Massachusetts, have four or fewer full time employees, and have taken in no more than $2,500,000 in combined debt, equity, grants, and revenue over the past five years. Its main research and development, and its headquarters, must be in Massachusetts. A principal investigator at a Massachusetts nonprofit research institution may apply, including with students the investigator leads. Companies cannot apply to Academic Activator. The same idea cannot be submitted more than three times unless the technology or market has changed in a substantial way.

The project budget must equal $75,000. Allowed uses include proof of concept research, testing, user testing, outside experts, and project specific equipment. The funds cannot pay for basic research, publicity, the costs of forming a business, unrelated travel, or equipment that is not for the project. Apply through the MassVentures portal linked from the MassCEC page. Finalists present in the week of December 7, 2026. Award notices are expected in late January 2027.